A fatal car crash in southern Israel claimed the lives of three parents on Tuesday, leaving behind 21 newly orphaned children.
The three victims were identified as Tzipi Shimoni — mother of ten children aged between two months and 15 from Moshav Sde Uziyahu, Fentanesh Obenach — mother of eight from Kiryat Malachi, and Matanya Ayoubi — father of three, the youngest of whom is just one month old, from Moshav Even Shmuel.
Kiryat Malachi Mayor Eliyahu Zohar extended his condolences to Obenach's family in a Facebook post.
"It is with great sorrow that I heard about the passing of Fentanesh Obenach in the horrific accident today. On a day that's already so sad as Memorial Day, the skies have darkened over the dear family and the eight orphans. Kiryat Malachi embraces the family during these harsh times. May you know no more sorrow."
A preliminary investigation into the accident on Road 3703 near Ashdod found that a truck driver had exited a curve and collided with a vehicle that was stuck in a traffic jam, sending it hurtling off the road. Another vehicle was forced onto the other side of the road due to the impact of the collision. The truck driver then tried to stabilize his vehicle, veered into the opposite lane and tumbled over, crushing two other cars. All victims were passengers of one of the crushed cars.
Six others who were hurt in the crash were hospitalized at Assuta Medical Center in Ashdod and Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon. One of the injured, a man in his 60s, remains in serious condition with multisystem trauma. Five others, three women in their 60s and two men in their 20s, have been hospitalized in moderate condition.
Earlier on Tuesday, another fatal crash in southern Israel claimed the life of 35-year-old Ortal Lin Cohen from Ofakim, who was killed near Beer Sheva in the early morning hours, leaving behind a husband and two children aged 5 and 6.
Three people were injured in the accident and were transferred to Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva, including the driver of the offending vehicle, who was suspected of driving under the influence.
The 26-year-old disappeared mid-treatment and was caught by police several hours later in Be'er Sheva. A breathalyzer test conducted after the crash showed the driver's blood-alcohol level was three times the legal limit. Police found that the driver had previous DUI convictions.
Since the beginning of the year, 124 people have been killed on the road in Israel, 39 of them were killed in accidents involving heavy vehicles.